Page 122 of Bride of Fire
Then the conversation took a nasty twist.
“But I do need to know the name o’ your abductor,” he said.
Fury flared in her, though she dared not show it. This was exactly the subject she’d hoped to avoid. She stared at her lap while her mind worked furiously.
“’Twill do no good to keep it secret,” he said. “The longer the wound festers, the less likely ’twill be to heal.”
There wasn’t an icicle’s chance in hell she was going to divulge the name of her lover.
There was only one way out of this discussion. She was going to have to seduce him for all she was worth.
Morgan couldn’t allow Alicia to distract him. Finding and questioning her lover was the only way he’d settle the truth of her abduction once and for all. The only way he’d discover whether she’d been snatched forcibly from his castle as she claimed or if there was more to the tale.
He wanted to believe her story. That she’d been swept away by a cruel villain. That for weeks, she’d languished in his keep. That her return had been a miracle.
But Morgan didn’t believe in miracles any more than he believed in ghosts. And now that he was thinking with his brain instead of his heart, he realized her version of what had happened was full of holes.
He couldn’t question Alicia. She was still too feeble. He couldn’t force her to relive what had happened.
But he could damn well interrogate the English lord who’d taken her. All he needed was a name.
“Will you hold me?” Alicia murmured.
Morgan blinked. It was a curious request, coming from her. But maybe the ordeal had changed her.
He folded his arms around her, tucking her against his chest. For once, she didn’t stiffen. Despite the daylight filtering through the window, she nestled against him in perfect trust.
“I feel so safe when I’m with you, Morgan.” She placed her palm over his heart. “So loved.”
He curled his fingers around her hand. Somethinghadaltered Alicia’s nature. She’d always cherished him in her own way. But now she seemed particularly thankful for his affection, welcoming his touch in a way she never had before.
He should have been relieved, grateful.
Instead, he felt guarded.
When her free hand slithered up his throat, lodging in the curls at the nape of his neck, his suspicions increased.
This aggressive woman was intriguing. But she was not the Alicia he’d married.
“’Tis been such a long time,” she breathed. “I’ve missed you.”
There was no mistaking her meaning. He replied with caution. “I’ve missed ye as well.”
She raised her face to his. “Would you… Will you…” She blushed and blurted out, “Take me, Morgan.”
“Here? Now?”
“Aye,” she sighed.
His nostrils flared. Alicia had never made such a request. Not once.
He couldn’t help but be moved. But he resisted his instinct to swoop down on her trembling lips, to kiss her in answer.
No matter how much he wanted this reunion—needed it to heal their marriage—he needed the truth more.
“’Tis my dearest desire,” he said. “But I can’t find peace until I have your villain’s name.”
In answer, she traced his ear with her fingertip. “I don’t want to think about him, Morgan. I only want to think about you.”
